Forest fires are a common occurrence in Canada. But on May 1, 2016, when a fire southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta took hold, few could have imagined that two days later it would trigger the largest evacuation in Alberta and an unprecedented catastrophe (CAT) in Canadian insurance history – to the tune of $3.6 billion. The emergency response plans for the province as well as at insurance companies across the country and at Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) were invoked, but from the beginning, it was clear this CAT was different.
IBC and insurers were there from the beginning to help influence and proactively guide decisions that would result in better outcomes for the industry, consumers and policyholders. Years from now, we may look back on it as a positive step towards a more coordinated and collaborative emergency strategy that put the insurance industry in the heart of the emergency operations and smoothed the way to recovery. This early industry participation is a first in disaster management in Canada and is likely to become a best practice for future responses.
This fall, the CIP Society is offering a two-part webinar series examining the landscape of wildfires in Canada, and specific examples of how the industry prepared, responded, and changed the way the industry responds to emergencies when the next disaster strikes.
Discusses the critical role of social media during a catastrophic event, like the Fort McMurray wildfires. No longer just a tool for one-way communication, this webinar will show the various social media platforms can be an effective tool for customer service and empathy with examples before, during, and after the Fort McMurray evacuations.
Register today for this October 13th webinar!
Reviews the changing risk of wildfire, including causes, prevention, and risk management. It also discusses the industry’s strategy for a proactive and timely response during emergencies and disasters of this caliber, and how the industry can build from these experiences for future disaster management planning.
Register today for this November 17th webinar!
These webinars are presented by representatives from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), who were actively involved with the Fort McMurray wildfires either onsite or through social media.
Space is limited – register for these webinars today!
Related: ADVANTAGE Monthly Trends Paper – Wildfires in Canada